13. THE LIFE OF JESUS: SECOND LUMINOUS MYSTERY - THE MIRACLE OF CANA

APPETIZER:  "The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for "offence"; they are not intended to satisfy people's curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons." (CCC #548)

MAIN COURSE: When Pope St. John Paul II gave us the Luminous Mysteries, he chose the Wedding Feast of Cana both because it shows Mary's intercession for us with her Son and because - as the first miracle of Jesus- it stands for ALL of the Lord's miracles to come. So as we peer into the life of Jesus though the door of this mystery, we will look at his miracles in general.

The working of miracles was an essential aspect of Jesus’ public ministry. It was also a sign prophesied in the Old Testament about what the Messiah would do for the people. The great prophet Isaiah foretold that in the days of the Messiah "...the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy." (Isaiah 35:5-6)  According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus was known by the local people as a “miracle-worker,” a person who healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons.

If Jesus didn’t perform miracles, it would have made it much more difficult to convince others that he was the Promised One. There had been others who claimed to be sent from God as his Messiah during the 1st century but none of them turned water into wine or restored sight to the blind. Jesus miracles, however, were not simply proofs of his divine nature or authority.  They were also powerful and unmistakable signs that the Kingdom of God, foretold of old, was bursting into human history.

Just as each of the four evangelists (gospel-writers) presented the person and mission of Jesus with a particular viewpoint that was meaningful to their local Churches, so too did they do so with their recounting of his miracles.  

• Matthew who wrote primarily for Hebrew Christians uses the miracles to show how Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom of God's Messiah. 
• Mark wrote the miracle stories to show Jesus as the Almighty Power and Action of God, something that  made a lot of sense to his Roman-based Christian community.
• Luke, whose reporting on Jesus was for Gentiles (Non-Jews), highlights the miracles  as  expressions of God's Mercy which is poured out upon everyone who asks.
• John, whose Gospel is a deep meditation on the person and mission of Jesus, chose just 7 miracles and called them Signs. Signs point to Someone or Something. John’s account of Jesus’ miracles point to the divine nature of Jesus the Eternal Son of God, who has come to destroy the works of the devil and give those who trust in him everlasting life. 

We don't have enough time in this Bitesize Catechism is serve up all of the miracles of Jesus.  They span so many different needs and experiences of our human condition.  There were miracles over nature, miracles of healing, and miracles of spiritual deliverance and exorcism. If you wish to read about these or reflect on one or the other them,  go this link where you will find a handy guide to all of the Gospel miracle stories: 

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=34899

But now here is something that shocks many Christians: At the Last Supper, Jesus himself said that WE (his disciples) would work miracles just as he did or even greater (see Scripture quote below)!  How can this be? Because, after going back to God the Father,  he would send the Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who believe and this Spirit is the very power God at work in us. Sadly, over the centuries Catholics by and large have come to disbelieve this OR explain it away as meaning that this promise was only meant for those whom we call "Saints". 

But if you read the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, you will see that this is exactly what happened.  It was quite expected that the spreading of the Gospel and Kingdom of God was to be accompanied by signs and wonders that would show forth the truth of what the Christians were saying about Jesus.  The Acts records miracles just like those of the Gospels: healing, exorcisms, power over nature, raising the dead, etc.  And if you read the writings the early Christians in the first few centuries after this, you will see that they truly believed and expected that Christians would work miracles just like Christ. And because they trusted in these words of Jesus, they did work them!

The Resurrection of Jesus on the First Easter Sunday was the greatest miracle of them all.  Besides being the ultimate sign or proof of his divinity, it also shows that God was truly with and acted through this "man called Jesus" (from the viewpoint of just his humanity).  The Resurrection is a sign that death is conquered. The Resurrection is a sign that the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross was accepted by God has having obtained the forgiveness of sin. The Resurrection is a sign that eternal life is REAL. Jesus rose with a real glorified body. He ate and spoke with others. He interacted with his friends. The Resurrection shows us that life after death is a REAL existence.  After bodily death, our souls will continue on in a real life that is interpersonal and communal along with all others who have trusted in Jesus.  Then when the time has come for Christ to bring creation and human history to its conclusion, we will receive back our bodies just as Jesus did, but they will be transformed, glorious and  awesome!  This will be his eternal unending miracle!

DOGGIE BAG: Here are a few things for you to take away for your spiritual snacking throughout the day:

Pope Francis Quote: "Miracles still happen today. But in order to allow the Lord to carry them out we must pray with courage to overcome that feeling of disbelief that dwells in the heart of every man, even in men of faith." (May 20, 2013)

From our Catholic Tradition: The Miracle Prayer.  This prayer is promoted by the religious order called the Servants of Mary (aka Servites, founded by 7 saints in 13th century Italy).  it is called a Miracle Prayer not because it works miracles per se, but because it is meant to help the pray-er to reach such a deep authentic personal relationship with Christ that he or she will come to have that trust in him that opens us up to become instruments of the miraculous action of God. 

Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life, Jesus. I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit.  Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your Precious Blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Amen.

The Servites give the following instruction when distributing the above prayer: "Say this prayer faithfully, no matter how you feel. When you come to the point where you sincerely mean each word with all your heart, Jesus will change your whole life in a very special way. You will see."

SCRIPTURE VERSE TO MEMORIZE: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (John 14:12)

12. THE LIFE OF JESUS: 1ST LUMINOUS MYSTERY - BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN RIVER

APPETIZER: "All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan.After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."  Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son." (CCC #1223-1224)

MAIN COURSE: The Baptism of the Lord presents us with Jesus now all grown up into a young adult, about 30 years of age.  He has spent the bulk of his time in the little village of Nazareth, living and working in an ordinary life as a craftsman. But now the divinely appointed moment has come for him to step out of his quiet every-day life and enter into the opening chapters of his life as the Messiah, the Savior, the Promised One sent to lead humanity back to God. 

He approaches his cousin, St. John the Baptist at the Jordan River, eager to inaugurate this public mission.   He does this, not because he has any sins to be washed away, but to show that he is in solidarity with all of us, sinners.   In some mystical but real way, we are all united with him, gathered together in him, at that moment as He delves into its waters. He makes his first public appearance by identifying us who need to repent of sin, because he is the Lamb of God who has come to free us from sin and give us new life in God through his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. 

it is important to know that John the Baptist's baptism was NOT the Sacrament of Baptism for Jesus had not yet instituted that Sacrament.  At that time in Jewish history, it was simply a religious ritual that showed a person's desire to turn away from sin and live according to God's commands. It could be seen by us as something similar to blessing ourselves with holy water and making an Act of Contrition.  However, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River does have some valuable lessons to teach us about the Sacrament of Baptism.  

Jesus shows us by his example that Baptism is our first step to a new and meaningful relationship with God. And what happened to Him at his baptism is both a sign and a promise of what happens to each one of us at ours. By reflecting on this gospel, we can discover some extremely important truths about the Sacrament of Baptism: it destines us for Heaven, it fills us with the Holy Spirit, and it makes us beloved children of God.

The first thing we hear about after Jesus comes up out of the water is that heaven was opened. And this is precisely what Baptism does for us. It re-opens the way to Heaven which was closed to us by the original sin of Adam and Eve.  Recall that in the beginning of our history, the first humans were given the choice of living in obedience to our Creator or of living life on their own terms, separated from him. They freely chose to turn their backs on God and turned down the gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. And so, the heritage they passed to us their descendants, was this spiritual deficiency, this spiritual alienation from God and heaven. Every single human being since then – except for Jesus and Mary – have been conceived and born into our world in this spiritually-challenged condition we call original sin. But Jesus came precisely to undo what the first humans had done. His mission as God-in-the-flesh was to give each one of us a chance to accept God’s invitation and re-enter an intimate relationship with him. And the first step in making this choice is baptism.

The next marvelous thing we see at the Jordan is the Holy Spirit coming down upon Jesus under the appearance of a dove. The dove is a universal human symbol of peace and it is by the waters of baptism that we become reconciled and at peace with God. We receive the Holy Spirit whom St. Paul tells us makes us the adopted children of God (see Galatians 4:6). This indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit is a baptismal gift that is the core of our intimate relationship with God. It is a gift that keeps-on-giving throughout our lives, making us His living, walking, breathing temples. Imagine that!  

Finally, God the Father’s voice was audibly heard declaring Jesus to be His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. And this is exactly what God the Father says about each one of us who have become spiritually one with Jesus in Baptism: we are His beloved adopted children in whom He finds delight! The Scriptures assure us that God delights over each one of us personally. Not because of what we’ve done but because of who we are: his adopted children.  And this personal love of God touches our hearts and transforms us from the inside out, giving us the desire, the grace, the spiritual power, to live and love and delight in God in return.

The Baptism of Jesus has always been a favorite story among the Christian people, a favorite celebration in the liturgy and a favorite subject to be painted or scultpted in art. I think this is the case not so much because of what it says about Christ per se, but more-so because of what it says about us.  Or more precisely, what is says about the marvelous and awesome things that God does for us through, with and in our beloved Brother and Lord, Jesus.

DOGGIE BAG: Here are a few things for you to take away for your spiritual snacking throughout the day:

Renewal of Baptismal Promises:  It is the custom in some cultures and families to renew one's baptismal promises especially on the anniversary of baptism. This can be done by simply making the intention to do so without using any special words. Or the actual rite from baptism can be used where we repeat "I do" several times in response to rejection of sin and belief in the Creed.  The following prayer is a simply way to renew one's baptism as well and can be prayed any time, not just on a baptismal anniversary.

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I renew my baptismal promises, renouncing Satan, his allurements and his evil works. I promise to live as a good Christian. Rekindle the grace of Baptism within me so that I can be an instrument of peace and a witness to Jesus among those with whom I live, work and socialize.   Amen.

Memorable Quotes: 

"The baptismal promises have to be reaffirmed every day, so that baptism ‘Christifies’ whomever has received it, rendering us truly another Christ.” (Pope Francis, April 11, 2018)

"The Baptism of Jesus makes us rediscover the gift and the beauty of being a community of baptized, that is, of sinners — we all are sinners — saved by the grace of Christ, truly integrated, by the work of the Holy Spirit, in the filial relationship of Jesus with the Father, welcomed into the bosom of Mother Church, making possible a brotherhood that knows no barriers or borders. May the Virgin Mary help all of us Christians to maintain an ever keen and grateful awareness of our own Baptism and to faithfully follow the path opened by this Sacrament of our rebirth. Ever with humility, gentleness and firmness." (Pope Francis, Jan. 8. 2017)

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6)

11. THE LIFE OF JESUS: JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF CONCEPTION & CHILDHOOD

APPETIZER: "God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him, he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this, from all eternity God chose for the mother of his Son a daughter of Israel, a young Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee, "a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary". By his obedience to Mary and Joseph, as well as by his humble work during the long years in Nazareth, Jesus gives us the example of holiness in the daily life of family and work. (CCC 488, 564)

MAIN COURSE:  The Joyful  Mysteries of the Rosary take us to the beginnings of Jesus' life as a human being,  five events that all of us are pretty familiar with.  We all know about his miraculous conception in Mary's virgin womb at the Annunciation. We have heard about of her Visitation to St. Elizabeth who called her "blessed among women". Every year we ponder the mystery of his marvelous Nativity in Bethlehem with heavenly angels and mystical magi. We bless candles on February 2 to honor his Presentation in the Jerusalem Temple when he was 40 days old and was first called a "Light" for the world. These Joyful Mysteries come to close with the fifth one: the Finding of 12-years old Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple after he was lost for three days. But it is what the Gospels say at the end of this 5th Joyful Mystery that will form the theme for our Bitesize lesson this week: Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:51-52)

That's all we hear about Jesus until he appears at the Jordan River to be baptized 18 years later. The Catechism, like the Gospels, makes little to no detailed reference about the childhood and young adult years of Jesus. But what both DO say is amazing when you stop to think about it: the Word of God, the Eternal Son of the Father, upon becoming human lived a normal, regular, ordinary everyday like like us. Think about that for a moment. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity becomes a man "for us and for our salvation" (Creed)  and then CHOOSES to spend 90% (from birth to about age 30, he died at 33) of his human life doing what we do at home, in school, at play, in the workplace, etc.

We know that Jesus' life and actions were normal and ordinary like everyone else because of the reaction of his fellow villagers when they heard him acclaimed as a prophet and miracle-worker. The Gospels tell us that when he became known for popularity and healings, the people of his hometown were both amazed and incredulous.  St. Matthew records the reaction of Jesus' hometown folk in his Gospel: He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. (Mt 13:54-56, NLT) "Deeply offended"..."refused to believe".  They simply could not see in him - or accept about him - that he was THAT different from them. Their experience of him had been as one3 of the Nazareth kids, a neighborhood boy, and later on as a young man, the  local guy they called to come fix their fences or homes or build a table and benches.  The majority of Jesus' life was so normal.

As a young man we can imagine how Mary might wake him in the dark early morning telling him it was time to get up for work. After rousing himself from bed and throwing on his tunic, he would splash some cold water on his facer and sling his leather tool bag over his shoulders. Perhaps his muscles were still sore and tired from the prior day's labor, but off he went. In those days a "tekton" (Greek word for laborer, craftsman or carpenter) would most often go out to a job site and not have a workshop at home.  Knowing how Nazareth was geographically situated, Jesus most likely had to walk several miles to his day's gig. But Mary would have been sure to pack some bread and fruit into his tool bag to sustain him along the way. Then, at the workday's end back to Nazareth he went, sweaty, tired and probably wishing his tool bag wasn't so heavy! How often dow e stop and ponder THIS Jesus? Jesus the Worker. Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus the Guy-Next-Door?

This is something that should give us great hope and encouragement when we reflect upon our own ordinary lives and wonder if we can make any difference in the world by simply being who we are. It is not just through extraordinary signs and wonders that God becomes present among others and bestows his blessings. He so often - and most usually - does so in simple, quiet and unassuming ways. And "Nazareth" carries this message to us.

You see, both the Scriptures and  the Tradition of the Church inform us that everything Jesus did as a man was done for our salvation. That means, he did everything as a way of showing, teaching and leading us to embrace a life reoriented back to God. A life that rejects sin and selfishness and strives instead to replace these with love for God and neighbor. This is a life that can be lived anywhere by anyone so long as they live it with Jesus in mind and heart, depending upon his grace to life them up and enable them to love, to forgive, to show mercy, to promote peace.  

And yet many people fail to grasp this awesome truth and miss the opportunity! Through the centuries people have thought - and many still think today - that in order to be a holy person and live a life of heroic virtue we have to become a clergyman, or go away to a monastery, or dedicate our life as a missionary in some Third-World struggling nation. Now these are indeed good things - if they are a particular person's vocation - but Jesus's very life on earth should clear up this misunderstanding. The life of Jesus of Nazareth - at home, work and socializing - shows us that astounding grace and holiness is available to every Christian in whatever situation of life we might be. Many saints have called this a "Nazareth" way of living that is possible for everyone. It is a wonderful reality that is revealed to us especially in the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary!

DOGGIE BAG: Here are a few things to take away with you for spiritual snacking throughout your day.

Saint Quote: "At Nazareth Jesus glorified God and sanctified us infinitely more by His inner life, His prayers, than by His outer life, most holy though it was. Likewise, no matter how holy our external life may be, God is much less glorified by it than He is by our inner life...It is a great grace to live the life of Nazareth." (Blessed Charles de Foucauld, d. 1916)

From Our Catholic Tradition: Mary's Perpetual Virginity.  When talking about the Holy Family of Nazareth, people often ask if Mary had other children.  The Blessed Mother did not conceive and give birth to any other child except for Jesus. This is why we call her the Blessed or Ever-Virgin Mary.  Her Perpetual Virginity is one of the 5 main doctrines of the Catholic Faith about Mary. Just for the sake of clarity the other 4 are: Immaculate Conception, Mother of God, Assumption Body and Soul into Heaven, and Spiritual Mother of the Church. 

Except for Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers (who by the way comprise about 75% of all Christians), most others believe that she and Joseph had other kids because the gospels mention "the brothers and sisters of Jesus". But in the Greek language of the Gospels, the same word ("adelphos") was used for "sibling" or "cousin" or "relative". So we take that linguistic fact - along with the constant Church teaching about this topic - and come to the truth that Jesus was her only Child. The Catechism supports this teaching where it says: "The Bible mentions brothers and sisters of Jesus. The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus", are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew's gospel significantly calls "the other Mary".  They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression." (CCC #500).

Consider the way we treat an awesome sport player's jersey: we retire his number as a sign of honor and respect for a job well done. In a smilier way, we can say that the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary was "retired" after having Jesus as a way of honoring the truth of his divinity and the total uniqueness of his conception and birth. 

SCRIPTURE VERSE TO  MEMORIZE: "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17)

10. PRAYING THE LIFE OF JESUS: The Rosary

APPETIZER: "Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in...the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value... to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him." (CCC #2708)  

MAIN COURSE:  Having (hopefully) enjoyed some sample servings of basic doctrine up to this point in our Bitesize Catechism, it's time to move on to the various particular ingredients that make up the feast of our Catholic Faith. First up, of course, should be the life, teachings, miracles, suffering, death and glorification of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a lot of spiritual food to consume and so we need to break it down into...well..."bitesize" pieces!  I can't think of a better way for us to do that than by using one of our most beloved prayer-devotions as our format: the Rosary of Our Lady.

The Rosary helps us to ponder the entire scope of Christ's life.  It begins with his miraculous conception in the virgin-womb of the Blessed Mother, and moves on through his childhood into his public ministry as Messiah. It brings us through the horror of his Passion and then proclaims his Glory as Risen Lord enthroned in Heaven. The last three events of the rosary focus on us, the Church, empowered by the sending of the Holy Spirit and encouraged by God's blessings on Our Lady, which will also be our blessings if we remain faithful. Let's take a quick look at the rosary and why it has come to be called the "compendium of the Gospel".

Pope St. Paul VI (d. 1978) informs us as to why the rosary is a fruitful way for pondering the life of Jesus: "The Rosary draws from the Gospel the presentation of the mysteries... As it moves from the angel's joyful greeting and the Virgin's pious assent, the Rosary takes its inspiration from the Gospel to suggest the attitude with which the faithful should recite it. In the harmonious succession of Hail Mary's the Rosary puts before us once more a fundamental mystery of the Gospel-the Incarnation of the Word, contemplated at the decisive moment of the Annunciation to Mary. The Rosary is thus a Gospel prayer."

In other words, there are a couple of ways to learn about Christ: by reading the life of Jesus in the pages of the gospels or by praying the life of Jesus through the beads of the rosary. Same Jesus.  Same life. Different methods. As a matter of fact, in the centuries before literacy became the norm for the common person, the rosary was a main way of learning about and passing on the various events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Along with the visual art-lessons of stained glass windows it was a basic form of catechism for the average person. St. Dominic and his religious Order of Preachers (known today as the Dominicans) became the major apostles of the rosary as a means for learning the faith and growing in a deep personal relationship with Christ through Mary.  It is documented that St. Dominic's promotion of the rosary was a major factor in preserving the Catholic Faith during a time of heresy and turmoil in the 13th century.

However, the rosary did not just appear on the scene our of nowhere. It has its roots in both prayer and Scripture, particularly the Book of Psalms. In the ancient days of the Church reciting the Psalms was a basic form of daily prayer especially for monks. But the monks who could not read - along with the local illiterate people who joined in their prayer times - began to substitute a repetition of Our Fathers or Hail Marys in place of the Psalms. There are 150  Psalms, therefore, the people prayed 150 Our Fathers or Hail Marys, depending upon local custom and personal preference.  In order to keep track of theses prayers, various devices came into use such as a string of knots, a bag of pebbles, a chain of beads.

It soon became the custom to meditate or reflect upon various events from the life of Jesus while reciting these many prayers.  This enabled the people to focus on Christ and not have their minds wander while they recited their prayers. There was no set format for these meditations and so people would often create their own reflections on the life of Christ.  These Christ-events began to be called the "mysteries" of the rosary because it is indeed a mystery that God became human and lived among us. Eventually people began to pray just a part of the rosary daily and so the typical rosary we use today is actually 1/3 of the full devotion, consisting of 50 Hail Marys divided into 5 groups of 10 (called decades).  Each group is introduced by the Our Father and concluded with the Glory Be.

Just as the mysteries of the rosary varied and developed, so too did the style of prayer beads.  Some rosary beads had crosses or medals attached to them along with the four introductory beads such as we are used to seeing on our rosaries today.  Others just had "Hail Mary" beads or knots and no other decorations. It did not matter then - and it does not matter today - what form or style of rosary is used to count the prayers. Some rosaries are only 1-decade in size, others 5-decades (the most common form) while others are composed of the entire set of 150 beads or knots.

The Hail Mary prayer also varied and developed over time.  The official name of this prayer is the "Angelic Salutation" because it starts off with the angel's words of greeting to Our Lady. Originally, this prayer was just composed of two verses from St. Luke's gospel and went like this: "Hail full of grace! The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." In some places people added the Holy Name of Jesus after the word "womb". After about 1,000 years  in its original form, Pope St. Pius V in the 16th century added the ending words "Holy Mary, Mother of God..." and it is has remained pretty much the same ever since (although Catholics and Orthodox Christians in the Easter Church still pray a version of the shorter form).

In our times, Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II encouraged Christians to feel free to adapt the rosary to their personal needs and style when using it as in private prayer.  While remaining connected to its essential form of 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and 1 Glory Be for each mystery, people are free to meditate upon their own sets of mysteries, or to add a few words to the Hail Mary prayer that connects it to each mystery (for example, "fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem" for the 3rd Joyful Mystery).  Some people find it helpful to use the original shorter-form of the Hail Mary, especially those who have a hard time focusing for 15-20 minutes while praying the longer version.

We should freely use whatever form of the rosary enables us to pray best.  The important thing in taking up the Gospel-based devotion of the rosary is that we praise God, honor the Blessed Mother, and reflect upon the mystery of Jesus Christ with our hearts and our minds.  In the next few servings of the Bitesize Catechism, we will be sampling the life of Jesus by going through each set of mysteries and reflecting on what they tell us about Jesus Christ, our beloved Brother and Lord.

DOGGIE BAG:  Here are a few things to take away with you for spiritual snacking throughout your day.

Quote from Pope Francis: “Every time we take the Rosary in our hands and pray to her we take a step forward towards our life’s great goal.”

Catholic Customs:  The 20 Mysteries of the Rosary.  In the year 2002, Pope St. John Paul II added 5 new mysteries to the traditional 15 mysteries of the rosary . He called these the Mysteries of Light or Luminous Mysteries, because they help enlighten us as to who Jesus is and what he did for us in his public ministry.  While a person is free to pray any of the 20 mysteries of the rosary any time they wish, it has become customary to reflect on the Joyful Mysteries on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays of Advent; the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays of Lent; the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays and the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays and the Sundays of Easter Season and Ordinary Time. Here are the 20 mysteries:

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." (Luke 2;19, on Mary treasuring the memories of Jesus)